Photo: Sports Illustrated

Washington Capitals center Lars Eller left the team’s first practice of the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs early after stepping on the ice at the start due to maintenence for an upper-body injruy. Center Travis Boyd stepped in his place on the third-line with forwards Jakub Vrana and Brett Connolly. Center Nic Dowd filled the fourth-line center role. Head coach Todd Reirden stated that Eller will be ready for Game 1 of the Capitals’ first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes at Capital One Arena on Thursday night (7:30 PM ET, NBC Sports Washington locally or USA Network for those outside the DMV).

Reirden says Eller just took a maintenance day for an “upper-body” injury. He started practice, but they didn’t feel the need to push it more today with game 1 not until Thursday. No concern for his game 1 availability.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 8, 2019

Defenseman Bobby Nardella, who signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Capitals last week, signed an amateur tryout contract with the AHL’s Hershey Bears.

New #Caps prospect BobbyNardella signs tryout agreement with Hershey

— JJ Regan (@JJReganNBCS) April 8, 2019

Capitals’ Practice Lines

Caps lines in practice:

Ovechkin-Backstrom-Wilson
Hagelin-Kuznetsov-Oshie
Vrana-Boyd*-Connolly
Burakovsky-Dowd-Stephenson

Carlson-Jensen
Orlov-Niskanen
Orpik-Djoos

*Eller would obsy normally go in that 3C role. We’ll of course ask why he left practice early.

— Isabelle Khurshudyan (@ikhurshudyan) April 8, 2019

Hurricanes News

Head coach Rod Brind’Amour was unsure about defenseman Calvin de Haan’s status for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. de Haan was sent home after suffering an upper-body injury in the Hurricanes’ 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 31.

Brind’Amour still not sure about Calvin de Haan’s availability for playoffs.

— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) April 8, 2019

Brind’Amour also stated that he has yet to decide on who his starter will be for Game 1 on Thursday. He also said that both goaltenders, Petr Mrazek and Curtis McElhinney, could see time in the series.

Brind’Amour says decision not yet made on starting goalie for playoff opener. Says his feeling is both Mrazek and McElhinney might be used.

— Chip Alexander (@ice_chip) April 8, 2019

Capitals Today

CAPS TODAY: On Thursday, the Capitals begin their quest to defend their 2018 Stanley Cup Championship and to become only the fourth repeat Stanley Cup champion in the last 30 years. More info on https://t.co/HecIC0ECg1 pic.twitter.com/DLxnaDBbg1

— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) April 8, 2019

By Harrison Brown